Oxnard to replace fire station alerting systems at Stations 7 and 8

The Oxnard City Council voted 7-0 to approve a contract with Honeywell International to replace fire station alerting systems at the city's remaining out-of-date stations. Council members approved a project allocation totaling approximately $399,000, with a Honeywell contract value of about $319,000 and a contingency and inspection allocation bringing the total to a not-to-exceed value of roughly $367,000 for the procurement itself and roughly $399,000 including project management.

Project staff said Stations 7 and 8 were the last sites needing the upgrade and that earlier stations received simpler installations; Taylor Gambino, the project manager, summarized the work: “Those stations were done previously. So these are the last 2 that need to be done.”

Fire department staff told the council the newer alerting systems modulate volume by time of day, display which apparatus should respond and can stream dispatch traffic to crew areas, reducing the physiological stress older bell-and-siren systems imposed on firefighters. The chief said the upgrades both improve crew health and give personnel more information as they respond.

Council members asked about licensing and ongoing maintenance costs; staff said the negotiated price rolls maintenance into the procurement for a defined period and that Ventura County dispatch provides reciprocal services at minimal cost because of mutual-aid agreements.

The council approved the staff recommendation by a 7-0 vote and directed staff to proceed with contract execution and scheduling for installation.

Votes at a glance: Honeywell agreement for fire station alerting system replacement; project and funding approved, council vote 7-0.